When brothers say they don’t recommend that men be full-time preachers because churches can be difficult and the preachers family can be subjected to much uncertainty, I say, ‘No’. When the assertion is defended on the basis that we have Paul’s example of making tents, I say, ‘No’.

I say this in love, but encouraging part-time preaching is wrong. The suggestion of encouraging part-time preachers because churches can be unruly is simply wrong. I know the frustration some preachers have had, but that just means God’s preacher has to be hard-headed and more determined that the unruly churches.

No sir, I discourage part-time preaching. God needs full-time preachers as a rule. Then, if there’s no option for that, then do it part-time. Again, I’m not trying to be too harsh here, but to recommend men have a profession and only preach part-time is wrong.

“1After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” Acts 18:1-5.

Indeed, Paul had the profession of tent-building. But when the church supported him, he quit the tent building and devoted himself COMPLETELY to the word. He didn’t hold on to the secular business. Paul was all in when the church supported all of his needs.

Preachers, you go into that work understanding you are entering a labor that is unlike any on earth. You are peculiarly engaged in something that has different rules than any other work on earth. It’s risky and you knew it when you entered the work. Be all in and go with God’s strength and conviction. That unruly church needs a commitment from a man to stay and help work out this sad state the church is in.

Said in love. Dan

[p.s. this post is an answer to a comment made elsewhere to me by a Christian who I love. I am answering something he said about this matter of full-time preaching. And while I disagree with his position, very strongly do it disagree with him, still I appreciate him very much.]

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